The group slowly moved along the shoreline, pebbles crunching underfoot.Tristan led the way with one hand resting on his sword hilt, his eyes sharp as he scanned the surrounding vegetation. After their encounter with the carnivorous plants, everyone remained on high alert. They didn't dare make a sound, fearing they might disturb whatever dangers lurked on the island.Milton walked beside Tristan, carrying a branch to push aside the tangled vines. His weathered fingers brushed the vine surface as he watched for danger. "Your Highness, the vegetation is getting denser here, and something feels wrong. Besides the usual plant scents in the air, there's also an underlying chill," he said in a low voice."What do you think it means?" Tristan asked quietly."I can't say for sure," Milton replied, shaking his head. "But everything on this island seems unnatural. While ordinary islands like this often have rare treasures, they shouldn't be dangerous at every turn. "We should leave t

Time seemed to stop around the crater. The handsome man's eyes had suddenly snapped open inside the crystal coffin, and everyone stared in stunned silence. Those eyes held depths that no mortal gaze should possess. It was as if he had witnessed centuries of death and suffering. Just meeting that deadly stare sent hearts pounding and chilled everyone to the bone.Just when they thought nothing could be more terrifying, the man, Thymaleon, stirred slightly. To their surprise, he rose from the coffin. His body rose through the air as though gravity no longer bound him, and he hovered around six feet above the pit.His white robes billowed in the sunlight, outlining his tall, lean frame. A faint glow seemed to surround him, making him look like an immortal being. His contemptuous gaze swept over the panicked crowd below, like someone watching insects crawl beneath his feet.Tristan exchanged a quick look with his brothers. In Matthias and Nathaniel's faces, he saw his own shock and un

An earth-shattering explosion echoed across the sky, causing the entire Elysium Isle to shake violently.When the golden sword aura struck the enormous palm, a blinding flash erupted. It was as brilliant as the sun, forcing everyone to look away.Shockwaves spread outward with the force of an avalanche. Towering old trees were ripped from the earth as rock and debris became deadly missiles. The ground split apart, opening black chasms that seemed to swallow light itself.Tristan, Matthias, and Nathaniel were blasted backward by the aftershock. They slammed into the ground hard and coughed up blood. Despite their injuries, they forced themselves to look up toward the source of the brilliant light.Above them, the golden sword aura and giant palm remained in a deadlock. Golden light wove together with the white radiance from the palm. The two forces clashed with a sharp, sizzling sound.Thymaleon's face showed surprise for the first time. He frowned slightly, looking toward where th

The crane dissolved into a cloud of blood, and the camp fell into a deathly silence. Judith's scream caught in her throat as she gripped the dagger so tightly her knuckles went white. Just moments ago, she had admired the crane's graceful movements. Now she watched in horror as the blood drifted on the wind, and white feathers mixed with bits of flesh fell across the grass. The sight sent a bone-deep chill down her spine, making her shiver."Ms. Linsor, thank goodness you stopped me. Otherwise…" she trailed off.If she had taken another step closer, she would have ended up like the crane, reduced to nothing more than a cloud of blood. The realization filled her with lingering dread.With a grim expression, Grace said, "That's what makes mental confrontations between high-level experts so terrifying. Their mental energy has reached the point where it can form physical domains. "Anything alive that wanders in gets crushed to nothing, like a bug underfoot. There won't even be bones

Two blinding beams of light exploded by the lakeside like miniature suns. The world dimmed, and even the howling wind seemed to freeze.Thymaleon's body shuddered. A line of brilliant crimson slid slowly from his left nostril, spreading across his robe like an eerie blood flower. He reflexively raised his hand, then brushed past his nose and stared at the blood staining his fingertips. His normally cold eyes filled instantly with rage.He had never suffered such humiliation. Not only had he failed to suppress his opponent in their mental energy clash, but he had also been the one left injured."Go to hell!" Thymaleon's roar cracked like thunder. The white light around him flared brighter. The clear sky darkened suddenly as roiling clouds gathered. Purple lightning writhed through the darkness like serpents, crackling sharply.He raised a single hand to the storm, palm aimed at the churning clouds. His remaining spiritual energy surged in wild resonance with the thunder ripping